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(No Model. 7 H. H. SUHLEBER.

WIRE MAT.

Patented May 29, 1888.

m n jvvvl/ 8 l/ m V III n V g M W 96 v witmeweo Nrrn STATES HENRY H. SOHLEBER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO \VILLIAM W. QUINE, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE MAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,772, dated May 29, 1888.

Application filed December 22, 1887. Serial No. 258,669. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. SCHLEBER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the State of New York, have invented certain 1m provements in Wire Mats, of which the following is a specification, reference being-had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of wire mats, which [0 improvements are fully described and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings, representing my improvements in wire mats, Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4. is a partial plan View on an enlarged scale.

In the accompanying drawings, A A represent the spiral coils of wire of which the mat is composed, arranged parallel to each other and connected together by the wires or rods B B, passing lengthwise of the coils and serving to fasten the adjacent sides thereof to each other, as indicated in the sectional view, Fig. 3.

My improved mat may be made of any required dimensions by varying the length or number of the coils. In the manufacture ofthe mat the spiral coils, of any suitable diameter and of wire of a size adapted to the purpose, are made separately, being coiled up by any suitable machinery, and the coils thus formed are assembled into a mat by placing the coils one after another in the parallel position with their sides or coils overlapping orprojecting into each other and passing the wires B B lengthwise through two of the adjacent coils at the same time. The ends of the wire for1ning the coils are bent inward and the ends of the wires B B are bent over on themselves, so that the displacementof the partsis prevented. It will be observed from the drawings that the spiral coils of wire are all wound in the same direction, and consequently, in order to connect with the outermost portions of the ends of the coils, the bends 0 on the wires B are formed in opposite directions. The structure thus formed is exceedingly flexible and may be 50 rolled up into abundle with the wiresB lengthwise, thus rendering the mat readily portable. The structure is also somewhat elastic in the direction at right angles with the rods, and advantage is taken of this to secure the mat to a floor or other surface in an exceedingly simple and practical manner. At its extremities the mat is secured by suitable screw eyes or hooks e e, engaging with the rods F F to the crossbars or end pieces, D D.

At the sides of the mat are placed the side bars, (1 O, of a length corresponding to that of the mat and which are secured to the floor N by screws h or other suitable means. The door or other surface underneath. the mat to which the side bars, 0 O, are fastened is indicated in the drawings by the dotted lines N. The ends of the side bars, 0 O, are beveled under, as represented in the side view, Fig. 2, at Z, and the end pieces are provided with the beveled projections t, which engage with the beveled ends of the side bars. The elasticity of the mat holds the end pieces against the ends of the side bars.

The mode of securing the mat in place on the floor is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the end piece at one end of the mat being placed against the ends of the side bars, and force is applied to the other end piece to stretch the mat sufficiently to permit theinclined surfaces t' i to be'engaged with the bcvcls I Z, after which the contraction of the mat draws the end pieces firmly against the ends of the side bars.

The preferred manner of secu ring the wires in place is represented in Fig. 4, in which the bent ends of the wires are shown at 0 0. The ends of the wires composing the coils are also bent over or inward on themselves, as indicated at r r, so as to cause the ends of the coils to present an even edge on the sides of the mat. It will be now readily seen that by bending the ends of the straight wires back on themselves, around the end convolutions of the coils, and bending the ends of the coils down,as described, the coils will be prevented from rotating and 5 screwing their way out of the mat when the same is being walked on; and, further, thelongitudinal expansion of the coils is prevented by the straight connecting-wires, which latter are held in their proper places. By bending all the ends of the wires in, a finished edge is given the mat not possible to obtain by twisting the ends of the wires of adjacent coils together, as has heretofore been done.

My improved mat possesses the merits of great cheapness and durability, and its flexibility renders it exceedingly portable. By means of the end bars it is also easily detached or taken up from the floors for cleaning or removing dust or dirt.

I claim 7 1. In a flexible wire mat or floor-covering, the combination, with a series of parallel wire spirals, the coils of adjacent spirals overlapping each other, of straight wires passing through such overlapped portions to hold the spirals together, the ends of the straight wires being bent back 011 themselves over the ends of the coils to prevent the expansion of the latter, and the ends of coils being bent, substantially as described, to prevent rotation of the coils and their consequent displacement, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the side bars, 0 0, extending along the sides of the mat and fastened to the supporting surface N, of the herein described removable flexible wire mat, consisting of a series of parallel spiral coils, A A, connected together by the wires B B, passing through the adjacent coils and provided with the end bars, D D, projecting laterally beyond the edges of the mat and adapted to engage with the ends of the side bars to secure the mat in place between the side bars, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the side bars,O 0, extending along the sides of the mat and fastened to the supporting surface N, of the herein-described removable flexible wire mat,

consisting of a series of parallel spiral coils, A

A,-connected together by the wires B B, passingthrough the adjacent coils and provided at each end with the end bars, D D, attached to the mat by the Wires F F and eyes 6 e, and lugs or projections i i, engaging the side bars, substantially as described.

HENRY H. SOHLEBER.

Witnesses:

A. P. LITTLE, GEO. B. SELDEN. 

